100% CPU Vista, just reformatted... Help!

[bobwya]

This might help clarify my suggestion:
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows-vista/what-is-svchostexe-and-why-is-it-running/


Bob

 

[mhd1104]

Hey guys, this problem has just gotten the best of me...I think I have to send it back to Dell. Thanks for all the advice so far, but I am just going to let Dell replace my hard drive and get a fresh copy of Windows, this clearly isn't working. I appreciate everything!

Michael

 

[bobwya]

[strike]Upgrade[/strike]Downgrade to Windows XP...??

Bob

 

[radnor]

Kaspersky is good (very good, actually...) but it is not the end-all be-all of AV programs. There are some trojans / rootkits that are very good at hiding themselves (Sony CD drm comes to mind). Vista install does not have a low level format utility. Your drive MFG should have a bootable utility that will do the job, but I am not sure how Dell's Vista disc will like that.

If your CPU is at 100%, and your system idle process is at 0%, you do have a process running that is hiding quite well. I'd make a call to Dell first, but I'd recommend a low level format.

I do like your tactic, really do. But its way too much aggressive. And you forgot to mention he should use a Interleave factor of zero. Or he would lose HDD space. And a low-level format on a big disc (160gb or more) would take a week....give or take a few hours.

Now going for a more, rational stance.

You might have some malware hidden. Malware can hid itself everywhere for the exception of you granny socks. Your probably using the recovery partition from you Dell. This explains why after formatting the problem is there.

I would check that link about svhost. There is a crap load of processes hidden there.

Another thing is unplug you PC from the internet. An of us who recall the Blaster Worm would say that would make sense.A anti-virus is just that. Anti-Virus. I use Avast witch i consider a excellent AV. But i have Spybot and Adaware from Lavasoft aswell. And of course NoScript in my firefox.

Don't send your PC to dell. Reformat it. With only the KB,Mouse and monitor plugged. I bet the problem will disappear.
And will appear again the moment you plug the network cable.

 

[ajcroteau]

...he just told me to "buy more RAM"...

I find it fascinating that the majority of hardware vendors think the solution to any problem is to throw more hardware at it. More so when it's their computer they sold you.

So I guess they're now saying the P.O.S. computer they sold you in the first place didn't have enough RAM to begin with...

AJ

 

[Guest]

Hi Guyz,

I have got the exact same problem discussed here. I have Dell XPS M1330 which I bought 3 months ago. It has Windows Vista Premium.
I, too, got the same problem arising all of a sudden and persisting ever since. After startup my laptop works fine untill I open any application.... any! As soon as I open anything (my comp, control panel, etc) cpu usage just goes crazy without any particular process screwing up!!!!

Should I also send my Laptop to Dell or should I try reformatting it!!!

NS

 

[gpippas]

Everybody is focusing on a software problem and forgetting the hardware. Forget Dell and there buy more ram idea. What you need to do is download Process explorer. It is a microsoft application so wont cause any harm.

Its basically a far more detailed version of task manager. It also shows any hardware interupts at the top of the list. A hardware interupt can cause 100% cpu usage and all kinds of other havock that task manager cannot detect. Task manager will only show 100% utilisation but not why.

I know this is an old thread but to the OP did you ever fix the problem?

 

[newsith2]

I am having the same problem as OP. Specs are:

Core Duo 1.73gz
1gb of ram
Vista home premium (bleh)
ATI x

processor is running at high capacity when i have a program running (40-90%), but the 2 screenies i included are of when system is idle, and when i'm moving the mouse

 

[newsith2]

sorry, ATI x1700

and i got the message that the battery might be nearing the end of its life, i wonder if that might have something to do with it.